Diagramming Causality

Like conditional statements, causal statements can be quickly and easily
represented by an arrow diagram. However, because causal and conditional
diagrams represent entirely different relationships, we use designators (“C” for
cause and “E” for effect) above the terms when diagramming (and, in
corresponding fashion, we use “S” for sufficient and “N” for necessary above
the terms when diagramming conditional statements). We use these designators
in the book to make the meaning of the diagram clear. During the LSAT,
students should not use the designators (they just use the arrow diagram)
because they want to go as fast as possible and they can remember if they have
a conditional or causal argument while completing the problem.
Here is an example of a causal diagram:
Statement: “Smoking causes cancer.”
S = smoking
C = cancer
C                    E
S----------------> C
Although the diagram looks the same as a conditional diagram, the two are
different for the reasons described in “The Difference Between Causality and
Conditionality” section earlier in this chapter.